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T O P I C R E V I E W

Robert Pearlman

Inspired by Francis French's recent visit to John Young's boyhood home and being back home in New Jersey to spend time with family, I paid a visit today to Buzz Aldrin's boyhood home in Montclair.

As it turns out, Aldrin grew up only about ten minutes from my own boyhood home.

In September 1969, the local Rotary installed a bronze plaque in front of the house, which was restored in 2002. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Aldrin's 2005 children's book, "Reaching for the Moon" includes an illustration by artist Wendell Minor of the same house.

Fezman92

How were you able to find the exact house? I plan on going up to see it in the spring...

garymilgrom

VERY cool Robert!

Gilbert

VERY interesting, and nice photos.

JohnPaul56

I walk by the house every once in a while... I live about 10 minutes away from the house.

Last time I saw Buzz, which was at an event at the Omega store on 5th Avenue, I asked him if he would be stopping by Montclair. He did say he would like to if his schedule allowed him to. I think he still has an affection for his boyhood home... as I'm sure most of us do.

Robert Pearlman

quote:Originally posted by Fezman92:How were you able to find the exact house?

The Montclair Rotary Club's website has an archived article from 2002 describing the plaque's restoration and includes the address.

quote:Originally posted by JohnPaul56:I think he still has an affection for his boyhood home...

Another article on the Rotary's website describes a 2005 visit by Aldrin to the area, including to his elementary school (Edgemont) and to his boyhood home.

Aldrin lived in the stucco house with green shutters, adjacent to Anderson Park, from the time he was brought home from Mountainside Hospital as a newborn in 1930 until he left to become a West Point cadet in 1947.

In true Montclair fashion, he could identify all of the modifications his family had made to the home.

"We actually put the sun porch on there," Aldrin said, walking around the front of his home. "We planted this dogwood tree here...and in the back there's a breakfast nook - or there was."

FirstManOnMars

I, too, grew up about ten minutes away (Cedar Grove). Man, lots of people here from the area.

I used to run in the park next to his house all the time, and the last time I was up there, I also stopped by his house and took pictures. I was thinking of starting this topic myself, with the photos I have of the house, also inspired by the John Young thread, but you guys beat me to it!

I also was born in the same hospital as Buzz. For all I know it could have been the same damn room.

Rob Joyner

Do the Aldrin and Young families still own these homes or are they occupied by different owners now, or even vacant yet maintained?

Robert Pearlman

According to the 2005 article on the Montclair Rotary Club's website linked above, Aldrin's boyhood home is now owned by another family with no relation to Aldrin.

FFrench

Looking at Bill Pogue's new book, "But For the Grace of God," he includes a photo of a special marker similar to Aldrin's placed in his birth town of Okemah, Oklahoma by the Oklahoma Heritage Association.

Jim Vertrees tells me that the marker is now in front of the town's post office at W. Broadway and 5th, should anyone ever be visiting. Here is a photo he shared with me.

The same day he was given a ceremonial key to Montclair township, saw a plaque in his honor unveiled in the Montclair High School lobby and learned that the school's new science, technology, engineering and math small learning community will be named after him.